A man accused of battering his girlfriend’s 7-month-old child also faces charges of aggravated assault of a child under 13 years old resulting in permanent disability. The infant was transferred to Rockford Memorial Hospital from SwedishAmerican Hospital in critical condition earlier this week. No condition update was given Friday.

A 9-year-old, high school students, a 3-D printer and a life changed forever

When a Roscoe man asked the world if anyone was willing to change his 9-year-old daughter's life, a Boylan High School enginerring teacher and his students responded. Now Kylie Wicker has a prosthetic hand and a new world of possibilities.

Winnebago County may freeze hiring to deal with projected $2.5 million budget deficit

To solve a $2.5 million budget problem, Winnebago County may refuse for up to three months to replace retirees, seasonal employees and anyone else who opts to abandon the county payroll for greener pastures. The goal would be to see whether the cost-saving measure would take care of the shortfall appearing in the draft spending plan that would take effect Oct. 1.

As Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson fights police union allegations that he undermined and endangered police officers, some black residents, activists and ministers are speaking up in his defense.

Rockford ramps up effort to remove ash trees

The city is ramping up efforts to remove trees infected by the destructive emerald ash borer. The metallic green beetle’s presence was confirmed within the city of Rockford by the Department of Agriculture in July 2011, but it takes about three years for outward signs of the bug’s damage to show. It started to show this year as once healthy ash trees gave way to bare canopies and leafless branches.